Video Game Market Analysis Thread

[raihous (Musicology)]

@binarymelon

You can no idea what Xbox is spending on marketing, you have no idea what PS is spending on marketing and you might have a slight inkling on vague market shares.

Do you?

[KakkaKarrotKake]

I think this generation is basically set, MS could pump advertising out the ass for EU and spend millions upon millions but I don’t think it would change much, people are engrained into the PS/Nintendo ecosystems

I’m not saying they shouldn’t do better but I do think in order to see any kind of meaningful gains it will take a new gen launch with a fresh start and show neglected areas that they actually care about them from Day 1

[binarymelon]

@raihous

Do you?

NO! That’s why I’m not making statements about what Xbox should or shouldn’t spend on marketing in Europe.

[BadNews]

@KakkaKarrotKake

I think this generation is basically set, MS could pump advertising out the ass for EU and spend millions upon millions but I don’t think it would change much, people are engrained into the PS/Nintendo ecosystems

I’m not saying they shouldn’t do better but I do think in order to see any kind of meaningful gains it will take a new gen launch with a fresh start and show neglected areas that they actually care about them from Day 1

This gen is lost, but I don’t think they should stop fighting for it. They should try to build relationship and improve marketing efforts to improve performance for next gen. There isn’t a magic switch for Microsoft to turn it around, but they need to start somewhere, and it’s best to start today. I don’t think punting consoles in non-anglophone countries is the right move. I know PC is big in many regions, but there is still a good amount of people that game on consoles and Microsoft needs to find a way to reach that audience in those markets.

[raihous (Musicology)]

@binarymelon

NO! That’s why I’m not making statements about what Xbox should or shouldn’t spend on marketing in Europe.

Nobody has the data here, and we’re all making assumptions to contribute to the discussion. We are not making statements, but hypotheses.

[Saten117]

@raihous

Nobody has the data here, and we’re all making assumptions to contribute to the discussion. We are not making statements, but hypotheses.

That’s true, I’d want to know if they are making more money from EU than last gen even with less hardware (but more subs and pc presence), that would explain the lack of efforts to change course (and that’s not an hypothesis, but a solid fact).

@BadNews

This gen is lost, but I don’t think they should stop fighting for it. They should try to build relationship and improve marketing efforts to improve performance for next gen. There isn’t a magic switch for Microsoft to turn it around, but they need to start somewhere, and it’s best to start today. I don’t think punting consoles in non-anglophone countries is the right move. I know PC is big in many regions, but there is still a good amount of people that game on consoles and Microsoft needs to find a way to reach that audience in those markets.

Agreed, also it’s not like Xbox is some obscure brand in EU: everybodys know it, but they don’t know specifics (games, subs, perks, etc) because MS won’t tell them in the first place, then you have less internet websites and personalities who speak about it, and so on and on you have the perception of an inferior brand and/or that MS doesn’t care about the region. It’s a self fulfilling propecy like the japanese doom&gloom, but that market is the only one which showed growth with Series consoles. Because they are pushing it over there, it’s that simple.

[BadNews]

@Saten117

Agreed, also it’s not like Xbox is some obscure brand in EU: everybodys know it, but they don’t know specifics (games, subs, perks, etc) because MS won’t tell them in the first place, then you have less internet websites and personalities who speak about it, and so on and on you have the perception of an inferior brand and/or that MS doesn’t care about the region. It’s a self fulfilling propecy like the japanese doom&gloom, but that market is the only one which showed growth with Series consoles. Because they are pushing it over there, it’s that simple.

Unsure if Indiana Jones is a popular across the globe, but they should def push marketing for that game across the globe. I know stuff like Uncharted and Tomb Raider is popular across the globe and they should be able to piggy back off of that. I know its a marketing thing, but I feel marketing being suspect for Microsoft hasn’t done it any favours across the globe. I am in Canada and I rarely see marketing for game releases and other stuff and I am sure its much worse in Europe. They need to make their games feel like a big deal and it might translate in console purchases, but at least they’ll get Steam sales from games.

[Saten117]

@BadNews

Unsure if Indiana Jones is a popular across the globe, but they should def push marketing for that game across the globe. I know stuff like Uncharted and Tomb Raider is popular across the globe and they should be able to piggy back off of that. I know its a marketing thing, but I feel marketing being suspect for Microsoft hasn’t done it any favours across the globe. I am in Canada and I rarely see marketing for game releases and other stuff and I am sure its much worse in Europe. They need to make their games feel like a big deal and it might translate in console purchases, but at least they’ll get Steam sales from games.

Everyone knows Indiana Jones, I’d say more than Uncharted for sure and possibly even more than Tomb Raider.

Here in EU a simple Nintendo game (not even flagship) or a Sony mid-level exclusive get more marketing than Starfield or Halo Infinite or Forza Horizon.

But it’s pointless to repeat the obvious, Phil Spencer himself admitted the issue and promised to correct it. It’s the last missing piece, a very important one.

[SilentJay76]

@Saten117

I think Xbox must do something to revert the hardware decline in EU. They can’t live only from the anglosphere. It’s very strange because the product is good and the price is lower than the competitor, then it can be only the lack of advertising and stores allocation.

Xbox consoles were on a pretty steep discount throughout the holidays here in Germany, while PS5 was full price or overpriced bundles. It’s puzzling how sales can possibly be down year-on-year.

I do have a PlayStation and I have nothing against the brand. But the Xbox ecosystem/user interface/value-for-money is infinitely better in my opinion. It’s almost like people are just too blind to see what’s going on. It’s bizarre.

I’m sure marketing would help a little. But I’m not convinced it would move the needle all that much. I suspect Microsoft knows this too and that’s why they just don’t bother. Word of mouth and time is the only thing that can change the mindset over here. (And maybe that rumoured early next-gen launch in 2026 when they’ll have no competition.)

[BadNews]

@SilentJay76

I do have a PlayStation and I have nothing against the brand. But the Xbox ecosystem/user interface/value-for-money is infinitely better in my opinion. It’s almost like people are just too blind to see what’s going on. It’s bizarre.

I think its the damage of last gen because that was the worst gen to lose badly. Last gen was about built up digital ecosystem. Also, I think what hurts xbox it’s too similar to Playstation, which makes it hard in the consumer’s mind to jump to xbox. Also, doesn’t help that Sony has a built up relationship of being very strong in those markets. It’s the reason why Nintendo became strong in those markets because they do enough to differentiate themselves from Playstation.

[KakkaKarrotKake]

@BadNews

I think its the damage of last gen because that was the worst gen to lose badly. Last gen was about built up digital ecosystem. Also, I think what hurts xbox it’s too similar to Playstation, which makes it hard in the consumer’s mind to jump to xbox. Also, doesn’t help that Sony has a built up relationship of being very strong in those markets. It’s the reason why Nintendo became strong in those markets because they do enough to differentiate themselves from Playstation.

All of these things + having stuff like Fifa marketing in Europe

Xbox trying to compete with Playstation in EU is like PS trying to compete against Switch in Japan, there’s just too many factors to the others advantage

I’v been saying this for a while but I want Xbox to differentiate themselves from Playstation as much as possible, whether that’s ARM architecture, more modding capabilities, a proper handheld etc

Don’t care what it is but enough of the 8 year gens, releasing at the same time with similar hardware

[BadNews]

@KakkaKarrotKake

All of these things + having stuff like Fifa marketing in Europe

Xbox trying to compete with Playstation in EU is like PS trying to compete against Switch in Japan, there’s just too many factors to the others advantage

I’v been saying this for a while but I want Xbox to differentiate themselves from Playstation as much as possible, whether that’s ARM architecture, more modding capabilities, a proper handheld etc

Don’t care what it is but enough of the 8 year gens, releasing at the same time with similar hardware

Yeah, I don’t know what the solution is, but they def need something to differentiate themselves from Sony. I think with them being the same Sony will always do a tic for tac and even their half bake measures will be enough for consumers. Take PS+ extra/premium for example, they pretty much made it similar to gamepass, but for most consumers it was good enough.

I am not too familiar what ARM can do for Microsoft, but maybe that’s the route they should go for next gen to differentiate themselves from Sony. I think being too similar to Sony doesn’t create enough of an incentive for people to choose an xbox console over playstation. If they’re too similar then most will be content staying with what they know

[Saten117]

COD in GP day one is the thing which can move the needle, it’s almost as big as FIFA in EU. Obviously they need to let people know it’s on Game Pass and I mean it, because it’s not sure 100% MS would market it decisively. I think the best hope is ABK marketing doing the job.

[Mort]

@Saten117

COD in GP day one is the thing which can move the needle, it’s almost as big as FIFA in EU. Obviously they need to let people know it’s on Game Pass and I mean it, because it’s not sure 100% MS would market it decisively. I think the best hope is ABK marketing doing the job.

I still have to explain to people what Game Pass is… “sold” three families in my circle on their first Xbox’es this holiday once I did.

[KakkaKarrotKake]

@BadNews

Yeah, I don’t know what the solution is, but they def need something to differentiate themselves from Sony. I think with them being the same Sony will always do a tic for tac and even their half bake measures will be enough for consumers. Take PS+ extra/premium for example, they pretty much made it similar to gamepass, but for most consumers it was good enough.

I am not too familiar what ARM can do for Microsoft, but maybe that’s the route they should go for next gen to differentiate themselves from Sony. I think being too similar to Sony doesn’t create enough of an incentive for people to choose an xbox console over playstation. If they’re too similar then most will be content staying with what they know

Going with ARM afaik would enable devs to basically only have to target one SKU across PC/Console and Mobile and be able to scale it up and down based on the hardware

Right now an Xbox release requires a dev to specifically target that console but with ARM, Xbox would essentially be telling devs that if they make an Xbox release, they’d basically be getting a PC but more importantly a phone version alongside it without the current hassle of having to port a game to 3 different platforms

A dev might not want the hassle of porting to just Xbox but opening up to a massive untapped mobile audience could mean a huge influx of games and devs that wouldn’t normally have bothered with the ecosystem

At least this is how it’s been laid out to me, I could be wrong lol

@Mort

I still have to explain to people what Game Pass is… “sold” three families in my circle on their first Xbox’es this holiday once I did.

If CoD24 is the first to come to GP and they don’t have ads plastered everywhere with marketing out the ass, they can’t be helped

[Zip]

@Mort

I still have to explain to people what Game Pass is… “sold” three families in my circle on their first Xbox’es this holiday once I did.

We’ll have to ask Phil if we can get commissions

[Saten117]

@KakkaKarrotKake

If CoD24 is the first to come to GP and they don’t have ads plastered everywhere with marketing out the ass, they can’t be helped

Until proven wrong, I will have this doubt, they didn’t bother with FH5 and HI (biggest XGS games this gen), then with Starfield (biggest Bethesda game since F4).

@Mort

I still have to explain to people what Game Pass is… “sold” three families in my circle on their first Xbox’es this holiday once I did.

I also “sold” XSX to a couple of friends explaining them GPU.

[Searsy82]

@Mort

I still have to explain to people what Game Pass is… “sold” three families in my circle on their first Xbox’es this holiday once I did.

Its anecdotal for sure, but I can say the same thing. A few coworkers who were diehard playstation guys and a few friends and family members made the switch, but I too had to explain to them what it was and how it worked.

[KakkaKarrotKake]

There probably isn’t a game on the market that’s better advertising for GP than CoD, the only one that comes close is GTA and even if isn’t comparable because it’s one game while CoD gets a brand new release every year

Now that they have CoD they finally have a massive mainstream series that is big enough to target virtually every demographic out there with GP ads

If they want to target all the casuals with GP, they finally have the means to do it

[BigHappa]

@KakkaKarrotKake

There probably isn’t a game on the market that’s better advertising for GP than CoD, the only one that comes close is GTA and even if isn’t comparable because it’s one game while CoD gets a brand new release every year

Now that they have CoD they finally have a massive mainstream series that is big enough to target virtually every demographic out there with GP ads

If they want to target all the casuals with GP, they finally have the means to do it

COD and EA FC(fifa) are the most bought and played yearly franchises. They need to make a new partnership deal with EA. X360 days that had COD and on and off Fifa marketing rights.